Cruises for Sybarites

Need a ship filled with creme de la creme amenities and a crew who wait on you hand and foot? Read on

Seabourn Legend

Line: Yachts of Seabourn

Passengers: 208

Itineraries: Caribbean, Central America,
Mediterranean, Transatlantic

"Caviar in the surf," they call it: Uniformed stewards wade into the water balancing trays of caviar and champagne, the first course of the Legend's silver-service beach barbecue. This all-suite ship's staff will know your name by the first day and your favorite wine and deck chair by the second. What frequent passenger Max Harris most appreciates is not being nickled-and-dimed: "I like that you don't have to sign for drinks and there's no tipping." If you feel like a freshwater soak, an attendant will draw
a bath with your preferred soaps and oils. If you're lounging in the hot tub, he'll likely bring you complimentary champagne and caviar. Follow dinner at the open-seating Charlie Palmer restaurant with flambé under the stars, prepared especially for you. The ultimate luxury: the luggage service, which shuttles your bags from house to ship and back again (800-929-9391; seabourn.com; seven-day Nice-Barcelona trip from $4,300).

SeaDream I

Line: SeaDream Yacht Club

Passengers: 110

Itineraries: Caribbean,
Mediterranean, Transatlantic

The SeaDream I has 95 staff members to accommodate only 55 couples, so you will never find yourself waiting to flag down a pool attendant for a towelsomebody will clean your sunglasses, give you a cold-water spritz, or offer a neck massage
before you even think to ask. If the chef happens to inquire about your favorite dish, don't be surprised when it shows up on the menu a few days later. All suites come with sea views, silken Belgian bedding, and 24-hour room service. SeaDream's focus is unabashedly child-averse, so it's unlikely that your calm will be interrupted by screaming children. A highlight of any sailing is the Champagne & Caviar Splash, an end-of-cruise party dedicated to an inordinate consumption of bubbly and beluga, with music provided by a live band (800-707-4911; seadreamyachtclub.com; seven-day
Piraeus-Istanbul trip from $7,400).

Silver Whisper

Line: Silversea

Passengers: 382

Itineraries: Africa, Asia, Indian Ocean,
Mediterranean, South Pacific

Like almost everything on board, this ship's pillows are personalized to each passenger's preferences: Choose one with soft goose down and feathers, a firmer blend, a hypo-allergenic filling, or a therapeutic foam cushion. Similarly, your in-room minibar can be stocked with your favorite wines, beers, spirits, and soft drinksall complimentary, of course. Every cabin on Silversea's newest ship is a suite, but the Grand, Royal, Rossellini, and Owner's suites are attended to by esteemed members of the Guild of Professional English Butlers (a rare departure for this very Italian line). The butlers would be happy if you never lifted a finger: They'll unpack for you, arrange for a private car in the next port, or orchestrate a cocktail party in your room. For an additional $120 per person, Le Champagne serves a six-course menu with wine pairings dreamed up by Relais & Chateaux sommeliers (800-722-9955; silversea.com; seven-day Barcelona-Lisbon cruise from $4,550).